Reserve Exhibit & Opposite Sex

Best Junior

Reserve Junior

Phillipson’s

FERNGOLD GAY ELIZABETH

Reserve Australian Bred

Kirton’s

CH. HOLTONBURY WATERGLEAM

CH. HOLTONBURY WATERGLEAM

Phillipson’s           

CH. KYVALLEY WATERGLEAM

FERNGOLD GLEN SOVEREIGN

The standard of exhibits was high and they were well presented.  It was unfortunate that a few exhibits were out of coat: nevertheless all were as well put down as this would allow, and all were clean.  There was some good handling, but a high proportion of handlers did not move their exhibits away and towards me correctly ant this sometimes made it difficult to see the fore and aft movements.  At this stage I should mention that the looseness in fronts, with some weaving fore movement was not infrequent and was the worst fault on the day.  Overall however, soundness was good, temperaments were good and expression was good.  Heads were well balanced and there were very few shallow stops or receding skulls.

The winning exhibit would not for my money have gone to any other on the day than the one I chose.  He is a puppy and ought to go a long way.  He is very masculine, sound, well muscled, well angulated, strong, vigorous and alert and with good kindly expression.  He is a free, strong mover and looks as if he would work and keep working. 

The winning bitch and reserve in show was of good size for a bitch and as feminine as the dog was masculine.  Her sound front movement is one of her greatest assets.  She is not quite as well angulated as the dog and does not step out as freely but she is compact, well balanced and has good outline and carriage.

The Open classes provided good competition.  The open bitches in particular were very close and gave me quite a bit to think about.  The first three could all have been good winners and the eventual winner was a very lovely bitch.  I gave open in show to the dog who, although I would like to see a straighter and firmer front, is well bodied although he appears to be tallish.  He was also Australian Bred  dog and was closely pressed in that class by the second place winner which was Intermediate in show.That dog is very well made and may have been a little unlucky.  If my memory serves me correctly he appeared a little light in eye.  The Intermediate bitch could not quite match him and although she is a good typical specimen she carried a little too much weight on the day and was a little too soft.

Reverting to Australian Bred bitch, the reserve in show came from here.  Number two was of good type and in better bloom than the third place getter who may have been second with a bit more condition and coat.  She moves very freely.  In Junior dogs the quality was fairly even.  The first two showed a little more maturity than the third.  The Junior bitches overall shaded their male counterparts.  The winner is a well boned specimen with a good front but she was out of coat.  She was not much ahead of the second bitch, who has beautiful carriage and femininity but I think needs to finish a bit.  Number three was also very nice but her topline did not show up as well in movement.

The puppy class eas a strong one with best in show topping them.  The second puppy dog was a ‘possible’ for reserve dog.  There was nothing about him that I did not like.  I liked also, the puppy bitch.  But I think both those two showed a bit of  ‘puppish’ inbalance to stop them going further.

The minor puppies all quite naturally showed immaturity and were not at this stage in the same class as the older dogs.

The baby puppy dog was a little beauty with very good balance and firmness for a baby.  He shows a lot of promise.  The second baby was unlucky to meet him as he is quite nice too.  He was looser and not as sound as the winner, without intending detract from him.  The baby bitch ought also to be counted unlucky, I have not complaints with her.  She shows good conformation.  The baby dog just shaded her in most departments.

I do not intend to comment on the property and special classes except to applaud the Veteran Dog and say that all those winners in the regular classes ought to count themselves fortunate that they did not have to meet him.  He was shown again in the brace with his son who is remarkably similar in type with his dad on the inside and they took out brace.

I am sorry that my memory has not enabled me to recall the exhibits more specifically and consequently my comments have had to be general in nature.

Thank you again for asking me to judge, and good luck for the future.

Peter Cousins